I’m here, kids, and I’ve a wonderful thing to tell you: do you remember my tests? Well, I did it, there’ll be a new job waiting for me next year! I still can’t believe that, I mean, I’ll have a brand new job very soon!!!! There are jobs at different cities, at Brazilian other states... I’m # 10 in a list of 17 people who are approved, it means I wouldn’t have a chance to stay in one of major cities such as Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo or Salvador but in fact I *do* want to move to country cities. They’re a lot calmer than big ones and it has been a deadly serious issue recently, pun intended. See, recently drug dealers set fire in a bus full of innocent people who were coming back from work/college/school at 10 p.m. and there were deaths. One of my best friends, who thank God was also approved, uses to take that bus and needless to say she was terribly scared after that. She’s delighted because now she’ll also move to a country city – and it’s crazy that people are already fighting for the right of staying in a big city. I don’t know how it is at other places but basically everybody who works in the museum business at Rio de Janeiro state knows everybody so we know at least by name who is in front of us in the list for choosing best cities (she’s # 9 and I’m # 10). The most recent gossip is that there are already blood and strong words concerned to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo (Brazilian biggest cities) jobs. I don’t give a damn – ok, if I was # 1 and had the chance to choose probably I’d like to stay here but I’m quite happy with my possible choices. Me and my friend are joking about going west (like that song) because that’s what’s going to happen. See, there are five cities at Minas Gerais and one at Goiás (Brazilian states) that seem pretty fine: Sabará, Ouro Preto (which I love, I have been there before), São João Del Rey (I’ve been there too, it’s a nice place), Diamantina and Serro (all at Minas) and Goiás (at Goiás). Here are they:

Minas Gerais state

Diamantina (at Minas Gerais)

Serro (at Minas Gerais)

Sabará (at Minas Gerais)

Ouro Preto (at Minas Gerais)

I didn’t find a good image from São João Del Rey but it’s quite similar to the above ones

Goiás state

City of Goiás (at Goiás)

Brazil’s map show all states and you can see I’m pratically over sea (Niterói), and then you see I’ll go to west no matter if I choose Minas cities or Goiás one. You can also notice that all cities look alike: they’re historical cities, built during colonial times and basically still have same architecture until today. I know old houses tend to have many problems but I’m already anxious to be living in one of them, lol

People at my museum don’t know I’ll be going soon. Well, the library staff imagines that, because some of them also did that test, looking for jobs at government libraries but none of them had good grades. Anyway I’d already started to empty my drawers, I’ll just leave very few things (an umbrella and other personal items) to carry in my very last day. I’ll receive a letter telling me to go somewhere (a government office, I suppose) in order to become their employee, and just then I’ll leave the job I have now. I think directors won’t be too thrilled specially because I won’t give them any notice, but I’ve been a very good employee for the last 7 years and now it’s time to think about my priorities instead of theirs. I guess it’s going to happen in the beginning of next month.

I always thought I'd love to live at Salvador or Ouro Preto, and it seems now I'll be able to fulfill partially my wish, lolYeah, architecture of those buildings is priceless, I'm anxious to be there once again, no matter the city, I'm sure it'll be a great experience!

I'm sure Salvador will be one of the first cities to be chosen, Ana, but I'm delighted with the idea of going to Minas or Goiás, I've been in Ouro Preto and São João Del Rey before, they're lovely - I'm also sure I'll adore living there!